Landry Shows Range

The Ed Reed River Parishes Jamboree at Hahnville High featured a matchup between Destrehan and Lutcher. As always, LSU commitment Jarvis Landry impressed – this time on both offense and defense.

If everything Jarvis Landry did right on the football field
were thrown into his highlight reel, it would be a short night for the video
man.

More times than not, the game tape wouldn’t need much edited
away.

One of the most polished receivers in the country, the
5-foot-11, 185-pounder has been the talk of every recruiting discussion in LSU
circles since he came into the class last January. No matter the venue, whether
a college’s summer camp or a bout with a River Parish foe on a Friday night,
Landry turns on the minute he steps to the field.

Facing Destrehan in the team’s Jamboree game on Thursday
night, Landry – a top-10 ranked receiver nationally who welcomes the weight of
the Lutcher program onto his back – was without nerves for the first time in
memory.

“I usually have those pre-game jitters, it’s just something
that has always been there,” he said. “But this time around things felt
different. Being the senior and leader of this team, I was confident that I
could handle it all.”

And handle it he did.

Playing as both the team’s primary receiver and starting
free safety, Landry helped lead a Gavin Webster-less Lutcher side to a 20-7
victory over the Wildcats.

“On offense I had five catches for about 75 yards, but my
strength was my defense, and that leaves me feeling great,” Landry said. “I
finished up with nine tackles. I filled the lanes when I needed to and just
didn’t make many mistakes. It gives me confidence because I had worked hard
this summer to clean up my game on both sides of the ball.”

One of the game’s electrifying moments came just before
halftime when Landry intercepted a Destrehan Hail Mary attempt, leading the
Wildcat defenders on a wild goose chase before being corralled just short of 10
yards from the goal line.

“I was running all over, and finally I tried to pitch it
back to someone,” Landry said. “We were all over the place, but it was the
first game. I think we actually ended up recovering the ball down inside the
five-yard line.”

Landry also came close to six points on the offensive end,
grabbing a quick pass and leaping towards the corner of the endzone for the
score.

Landry thought it was his first touchdown of the 2010
season. The two officials were split.

“I jumped from about five yards away and hit the pylon
over,” Landry said. “The back referee came with his hands up, then the side referee
said no. I thought that I couldn’t have stepped out because I jumped from an
angle. I won’t sweat it though. There will be more chances.”

Without Webster, the question this season will be who – if
anyone – can create those chances. Essentially, who could get Landry the
football through the air.

The opening slate of tryouts began on Thursday night, seeing
the team rotate a trio of names en route to the 13-point win.

“All of them did fairly well,” Landry said. “(Sophomore)
Ruston Matherne came in and was pretty productive. He was able to get in there
and get the first touchdown to (junior wide receiver) Dorian Semien. That was
the big moment for us.”

Matherne finished the night with one rushing and one passing
touchdown. Senior quarterback Austin Brack, who spelled Matherne late, led
Lutcher on their final touchdown drive of the night.

“I was happy with the result, and I think Lutcher has big
things in store this season,” Landry said. “It always feels good when you are
winning.”

Lutcher returns to the field next weekend with Dutchtown.
The following day, the Tigers will take on North Carolina in Atlanta.

“I am going to be their biggest fan back here at home,” said
Landry of LSU. “I wish I could go, but I’m stuck to watching it on television.
I’m confident that they’ll win, I’m just ready to see them out on the field
again.”